Comply with us at the moment…
All of us love journey journey story. Right here’s one a few new EV driver making the twenty-five-hundred-mile trek from Portland, OR to Anchorage, AK. He noticed a number of cool sights whereas looking down chargers and dodging forest fires. Consider it as a twenty first century odyssey about resourcefulness and willpower to beat adversity (spoken in that deep film trailer voice).
EV highway tripping is turning into extra widespread and simpler. Many end in attention-grabbing social media posts. Right here’s an attention-grabbing put up on Reddit by drama_observer with a ton of responses about EV highway tripping.
“Hiya everybody. Lately a member of the family was desirous about getting a brand new EV EV9 however the transport as much as Anchorage was problematic and/or costly. There was some sort of accident or hearth with a container ship which meant that transport up there both wasn’t occurring or was actually dear.
I wanted a break from work and have needed to do this drive for some time, so I agreed to drive it up from the place they bought it in Portland, to Anchorage, by way of Canada.
We checked out taking the ferry for a part of the way in which – from Bellingham to Haines – however it was additionally fairly pricey they usually solely sail as soon as per week nowadays so the timing was a bit of awkward. I’ve executed that leg in a automotive previously (in an ICE automotive) and it is a blast in case you do not thoughts sleeping on the deck of the ferry, however nowadays I’m not certain my decrease again can be too proud of that call.
Abstract
Six driving days, starting from 5-10 hours drive time. Longest cost time was 4-5 hours, in a city the place the quick charger was damaged. Usually charged up above 80% given the unpredictability and distances concerned within the extra distant areas. Did not ever get stranded however it was a bit of dicey in spots. Total significantly better charging assist than I anticipated, particularly in BC, the place I really feel just like the infrastructure is to the purpose the place you do not actually need to do a lot pre planning. No actual regrets or large issues I would change.
Automobile
I drove the 2026 Kia EV9 Lengthy Vary. I’m not an EV man so I do not know an excessive amount of about this. I do know I had to make use of a CCS charger adapter at nearly each cease.
I favored the automotive rather a lot. It is fairly big for a man like me however for his or her household with children I believe it is smart. It has fairly a little bit of vary, realistically, it is solely in locations like northwestern Canada that you simply really feel it. I actually favored the driving help options – in my each day I drive a fairly fundamental (however hey, nonetheless nice) Subaru with out a number of the bells and whistles. The Kia Lane Following Help (LFA) was superior. Much less useful on rougher roads in fact however on highways, I may set cruise management and lane help and just about uhhhhhhh let the EV9 drive (undecided if I’m speculated to say that).
The one draw back is the local weather management cuts into the mileage fairly considerably. Took me a pair days to determine that out.
Route
I took I-5 north by way of Seattle, then Bellingham to cross the border. From there, I went by way of Kamloops, Cache Creek, Prince George, Fort Nelson (skipping Dawson), Watson Lake, Whitehorse, Beaver Creek, Tok, Glennallen, and led to Anchorage. Stopped extra locations than that clearly however that provides you with one thing to place right into a map.
This was pushed by a mixture of locations I needed to see, charging locations I knew about, avoiding forest fires, making an attempt to remain inside some sort of vary of companies in case of an issue of some kind, and drivable distances.
Lodging
I stayed in a lodge (of assorted high quality) each evening. If I used to be to do that once more and I had extra flexibility, I believe staying at RV parks and tenting can be choice as a result of I believe variety of them are beginning to or have chargers that cost fairly in a single day. As a result of I used to be solely driving one-way although, I couldn’t convey all my tenting stuff as a result of I wasn’t going to have the ability to take it on the aircraft on the way in which again. I believe you can positively do that a bit of cheaper and a bit of extra rustic.
For six nights, charging, meals, snacks, espresso, and many others., my value as 1 particular person was about $1,700 USD. Once more tenting would make this rather a lot cheaper, and I prefer to strive eating places once I’m in new locations, so you can actually decrease your meals prices and be extra frugal.
Planning an Electrical Automotive Journey from Oregon to Alaska in an EV
I used A Higher Route Planner (ABRP) which was fairly good. Additional north I relied extra on the official apps from the charging utilities – BC Hydro, and Flo within the Yukon. I additionally began counting on stopping in at each city’s customer heart and speaking to the desk employees – they’re very often conscious of developments within the EV charging space a lot sooner than a number of the different sources. Issues like, “Oh yeah, they only put in a brand new charger at Johnsons Crossing,” or “I believe that RV park has a quick charger now truly.” that possibly weren’t on different sources but.
One problem right here is that the Kia EV9 was not linked up with A Higher Route Planner so ABRP couldn’t entry my real-world driving effectivity knowledge and regulate its predictions and routing recommendation. There have been a pair instances once I enter the times journey into ABRP simply to back-check it, and ABRP assumed I ought to have arrived in a city with 25% battery left and I confirmed up with 6%. For instance. Usually not a difficulty however within the areas with large stretches between chargers… a bit of harrowing.
I additionally used the Milepost, which I obtained a bodily copy of, and flipped by way of at charging stops to see if there have been any factors of curiosity developing. I might suggest doing this as nicely. They’ve fairly good EV charging data in there too since they replace it yearly.
Day 1 – Portland to Kamloops BC
Began off early-ish from Portland, and stopped simply north of Seattle to cost at a Tesla supercharger. It was on the map as being east of the freeway, however all I noticed over there have been common chargers, which don’t work with the Kia regardless of the plug becoming. So I bopped throughout the freeway and with a bit of maneuvering discovered a row of superchargers in a car parking zone of like a very nondescript workplace constructing. This was my first time ever quick charging so it was a studying curve. I needed to obtain the Tesla app and make an account, which was annoying. First time additionally utilizing a charging adaptor however as soon as I obtained the cling of it, it went swimmingly. Charged for about half-hour I believe to get again as much as 80%. Within the meantime I went into the foyer of the workplace constructing to discover a rest room – it was code locked however I simply did the traditional wait for somebody to come back out and faux you have been nearly to go in transfer and it labored nice.
Crossed the border close to Abbotsford. Some questions concerning the novelty of the car however general nice. One attention-grabbing observe: the Kia EV9 doesn’t swap its shows to kilometers robotically, however the show does change its pace restrict steering to a conversion from KM. A little bit funky however for instance, in a 100km/h pace zone, the show nonetheless reveals your pace in Miles per hour, however the little pace restrict signal on the sprint says Velocity Restrict 62MPH (the conversion from KM). I assume you’ll be able to change this within the settings however I didn’t need to dick round with it and it labored nicely sufficient. Hung a proper to move for Kamloops, and stopped fairly fast in Chilliwack so as to add some extra juice – this was an “On the Go” charger within the car parking zone of a fuel station / comfort retailer. Labored fairly nicely.
I headed for Kamloops as a result of it was the most important metropolis close to ish to my route and I figured had the perfect odds of getting an honest lodge room accessible. I don’t know what’s occurring in that city however boy they certain love inns there – there are a gazillion. I pulled in late-ish and was capable of get a room on the Doubletree – there have been two EV charging spots out entrance the place I may have charged in a single day however since I obtained in late, they have been each taken. Good lodge, good room, every part moreover bars was closed for the night although so I simply went to mattress.
Day 2 – Kamloops to Williams Lake to Prince George
Bought up early-ish and located a charger on the town to plug the automotive in at whereas I went and had breakfast. Then I moseyed again by way of city and seemed round, handed by way of the farmers market, retrieved the automotive, and headed out to Williams Lake, the tough midpoint between Kamloops and Prince George, the aim for the night.
Observe – at this level I hoped to push a bit of previous Prince George, however there was no actual logical subsequent city that made sense. When you have a look at the full mileage to Anchorage, you’d prefer to divide it up into fairly even chunks however what I discovered was that the inhabitants facilities with quick chargers usually are not actually unfold out like that. So Day 2 was a shorter day than I might need favored – if spacing was a bit of higher, or I used to be tenting, I positively may have equalized the times a bit of higher with that added flexibility.
Williams Lake was an attention-grabbing little city on the confluence of two rivers. Lovely surroundings on this a part of BC that jogged my memory of jap Oregon and Washington. Dry golden browns, bluffs, water. Sadly they put the chargers within the ass ends of a number of the weirdest parking heaps in BC so my half thought by way of plan of “Park to cost for a bit and stroll round trying on the city” didn’t actually work. As a substitute I obtained a disgusting drink at Tim Hortons and wandered round taking a look at some First Nations interpretive installations and eavesdropped on everybody in a Tesla charging on the identical financial institution of superchargers. May very well be worse!
Subsequent cease was Prince George for the night. I obtained a room on the Hyatt Place there, which once more, had a few EV chargers within the lot that have been accessible in idea however busy once I obtained there. Dangerous luck.
I had fairly a night right here. Bought to speaking to a different solo traveler on the bar, we had one other drink or 5 and ended up enjoying blackjack on the native on line casino till final name. My new good friend was an actual professional and I believe turned her $100 into $110. Enjoyable evening. Humorous little city.
Day 3 – Prince George to Fort Nelson
Observe right here: I made a decision to go up 97 as an alternative of the Cassiar for a pair causes. One, there have been some fires brewing on 37 that I didn’t just like the seems of. Two, the chargers have been extra unfold out on the Cassiar, and I used to be nonetheless a bit of gun shy about being so removed from cities and companies. 97 is extra populated alongside this stretch though that’s not saying a ton. I imagine the Cassiar is rather more scenic, although.
This was to be a long-ass day, with two charging stops deliberate, and a pleasant little hangover besides. Grabbed a plate of eggs on the lodge. Needed to prime off within the morning at a BC Hydro charger on the sting of city, in the neighborhood school car parking zone. Bought espresso at The Open Door Cafe on the way in which out of city, which was completely satisfactory. Tons of native artwork and crafts on the market there which is cool.
The primary haul was Prince George to Chetwynd, a small little city that’s well-known for its chainsaw carving competitors. Had lunch at A&W right here whereas charging on the guests heart (BC Hydro). Lovely surroundings, you’re sort of following a valley alongside this leg with numerous farms and forest and a few nice terrain change that gives some actual sweeping views. Lovely surroundings by way of by Hudsons Hope although, together with an enormous dam mission and a few killer views up and down a river valley. Hopped on the Alaska Freeway (Lastly!) and the following cease was a BC Hydro close to Wonowon.
This stretch is scenic in a very completely different means – it’s positively beginning to really feel very northern. You may inform the soil will not be deep – all of the timber cease rising at a really particular top – and issues really feel muddy, boggy in a means. Thunderstorms. Not a ton of mountainous terrain but. Most of what you see alongside the freeway listed below are motels, deserted motels, turnoffs for pure fuel amenities, and work camps. There are a ton of large pickup vans round right here filled with sunburned males and welding gear. Bought a room on the Woodlands Inn and Suites. No EV plugs on the lodge however a BC Hydro quick charger on the town.
Day 4 – Fort Nelson to Watson Lake
Awoke early once more desirous to hit the highway. At the present time was most likely the spotlight when it comes to issues seen. Charged the automotive up on the BC Hydro quick charger whereas chomping down some McDonalds breakfast and a “Lengthy Espresso” which they gave me in the kind of cute to go espresso cup that might trigger a safety incident if it was ever handed to a median American McDonalds buyer at a median American McDonalds.
Subsequent cost cease was Toad River Lodge, one other one in every of dozens of humorous fuel station / motel combos that exist on this a part of the world. Had some first rate espresso. Wandered round. Moseyed. Took some photos. BC Hydro quick charger once more. The BC Hydro quick chargers are fairly plentiful, even this far north, and most of them promote 150kwh which is good and zippy.
This part is crossing into and inside the Canadian Rockies, so the surroundings begins to get fairly dramatic once more. I did succumb to the temptation to cease and take photos of vistas each 10 minutes. The thrill of highway tripping by your self. You go Muncho Lake for a stretch right here, which has extremely dramatic teal coloured water.
Subsequent cease was most likely the spotlight of the journey and another excuse I took 97 as an alternative of the Cassiar – Liard Sizzling Springs. A day use space with a cool bathing construction (altering rooms and benches) constructed right into a pure scorching spring. Smelly, however an actual deal with and an actual distinctive space. Tons of parents have been congregating right here, together with just a few Quebecois dudes on bikes I had noticed on the A&W in Chetwynd.
Cease for the evening was Watson Lake. I spotted that mainly each successive city heading north, pulling into the city I had been like “Wow, this place is absolutely f’ing tiny” solely to then drastically revise my expectations downwards once I obtained to the following, even extremely tinier, city. Watson Lake is mainly a large spot with just a few motels alongside the freeway. And a guests heart, the place the charger lived. I used to be within the Yukon territory by now – no extra quick BC Hydro, I used to be caught with 50kwh Flo chargers. Thankfully, the federal government of Yukon made all of the chargers free to make use of. Sadly, they have been fairly gradual.
I left the automotive charging and walked throughout the freeway to the Signal Submit Forest – a grove of timber the place nearly 80 years’ value of vacationers have hung up indicators and license plates, no matter, commemorating their journeys by way of. Unexpectedly very transferring. I spent an hour simply wandering round right here, studying indicators from individuals who had handed by way of many years in the past and had greater than probably handed on. Convey an indication of your personal and positively plan to cease right here.
I obtained a room at A Nicer Motel within the strip of motels – so far as I may inform all of them seemed fairly related. Once more a pleasant useful room, nothing flashy. I believe primarily based on studying google evaluations of locations lots of people had greater expectations for rooms, and I may envision a world through which I believed these rooms have been crummy. However on the finish of the day they have been quiet and clear and the plumbing labored.
Had dinner at The Nugget, a Chinese language place. Haven’t had Chinese language meals of that specific variety – your traditional 90’s American Chinese language meals – since I used to be a child rising up in Anchorage, so it was fairly nostalgic. Up on this space the similarities between Alaska and this a part of Canada have been actually hitting me – bizarre little frontier locations that mainly solely exist due to an enormous useful resource extraction increase 50-100 years in the past and are someway nonetheless hanging on.
Day 5 – Watson Lake to Whitehorse
Each evening on the lodge I might do some analysis and fine-tuning on the route forward the following day, largely so I may have probably the most present wildfire data. The evening earlier than is once I had seen ABRP distance pointers and route planning have been far more optimistic than distances and cost ranges I used to be hitting in the true world. I began to fret a bit of bit – there’s a leg on this journey if you hit Alaska the place you actually would not have any intermediate factors and just about need to have a 100% cost to make it from Beaver Creek to the following charger. The distances I had been hitting and the automotive was telling me it was able to, I used to be not going to make that leg, even at 100%. Mild freakout second, however I made a decision to dedicate Day 5 to some severe knowledge checking. By which I imply I busted out a pen and pad, wrote down the precise distance between some stops, wrote down the ABRP prediction, wrote down my automotive’s begin ranges and the automotive’s prediction of miles remaining, after which did all of it once more at each cease and used good quaint arithmetic to see how a lot the automotive was off by.
Topped off once more on the customer’s heart charger within the morning, then hit the highway. The primary cease was Rancheria Falls – no charger right here however a fast 10-minute stroll alongside some very good boardwalks to see a cool collection of waterfalls within the woods. I’m a bit of bit spoiled residing in Oregon however these have been fairly good. The mathematics right here stated the automotive was optimistic by about 25%. Not as unhealthy as I believed, and a brief distance, however nonetheless worrying. For the following leg I lower the Kia EV9’s local weather controls fully to see if that might assist.
Initially my thought was to try to make it to Johnsons Crossing in a single leg with out stopping to cost, as a result of the space was fairly similar to the worrisome leg from Beaver Creek to Glennallen. However the charger in Johnson was tremendous gradual – i believe it was a 25 – and because the day wore on and I checked my math with pen and paper at each cease I obtained much less nervous. I had discovered the AC was a large influence on effectivity, and with the AC off, I used to be truly typically beating the automotive’s estimates. So leaving from Beaver Creek with a 100% cost and no AC utilization would truly give me a really snug buffer to get to the charger in Glennallen.
So I finished at Teslin and used the quick (“quick”) charger on the marina there. Left the automotive charging, crossed the freeway for a fairly satisfactory clubhouse sandwich and fries on the restaurant there. Restaurant was fairly busy!
Left on about an 80% cost for the leg to Whitehorse. Aimed for the Flo quick charger on the Whitehorse Transportation Museum. There have been loads of like, 7kwh chargers that have been nonetheless paid for by the Yukon authorities. So I hooked as much as one and deliberate to spend the evening in Whitehorse.
This city broke the every-town-is-tinier pattern. Wow, it rang a bell in my memory of Anchorage. Architecturally and vibes clever. They’ve a phenomenal river entrance path, it appears to be a jumping-off level for outside actions like looking, mountain biking, and many others within the space, so it was filled with like, younger journey kind folks. Bend Oregon vibes. I obtained a room on the Sternwheeler, after calling round to about 5 different locations that have been already full. Then I went and put my identify in at Collect, had a drink and a few first rate tempura inexperienced beans on the lodge throughout the road whereas I used to be ready, then had some sort of scrumptious ahi/guacamole state of affairs with a margarita at Collect, and a pair extra drinks on the Woodcutter’s Blanket up the highway.
Talked to some attention-grabbing people on the bar, together with an older couple from Alberta on their first highway journey in 40 years, and a younger man who had simply gotten laid off from his job in gasoline cells. All the time sit on the bar and speak to folks IMO. Automotive was simply reaching 90% ish at this level, 5 hours later. Again to the lodge and conked out.
Day 6 – Whitehorse to Beaver Creek
One other short-ish day due to the timing of charging, so I deliberate to take it straightforward and provides myself loads of stopping time. Good factor too as a result of that is most likely probably the most or second most scenic leg of the drive. Bought breakfast at The Open Door, a fascinatingly busy espresso store the place they’ve obtained an actual streamlined operation occurring. Whitehorse is a really attention-grabbing place, I might love to return and spend extra time there and work out the vibes. It’s positively a serious regional hub of some variety.
Quick, mountainous, stunning leg to Haines Junction. Pulled as much as the quick charger on the guests heart and for the primary time within the journey, needed to wait in line for another person to complete charging.
Very cool guests heart right here. Tons of information on geology of the realm, the mountains, icefields, First Nations folks, the entire deal. Overheard a First Nations fella from the jap aspect of Canada speaking to one of many native First Nations guys concerning the variations in how their treaties have been arrange, how they dealt with sure issues, so on and so forth. Cool second to eavesdrop in on for a white boy like me. After charging as much as 80%, I went and grabbed a espresso and snack on the espresso store / bakery on the town.
Continued on. This phase is certainly probably the most bonkers surroundings of the entire drive. Take your time right here if doable. The highway obtained fairly unhealthy round Destruction Bay, which I used to be anticipating since I talked to a bunch of the customer heart folks alongside the way in which. It’s constructed on permafrost so within the spring it heaves like loopy, not a lot they will actually do about that. Undoubtedly have to be ready to decelerate, there are some wild dips. Pulled into Beaver Creek round 5pm possibly, hit the charger on the guests heart. One other gradual one so no likelihood of scooting out early since I just about wanted to be at 100% to be ok with persevering with to Glennallen with out issues. Requested the guests heart attendant about motels, obtained advised there have been solely three so I used to be in luck in that it might be straightforward to decide on. One was full, one was dis-recommended by the woman I talked to, so I obtained a bit of cabin out again of Buckshot Betty’s. First rate sufficient little spot however god I want that they had put a fan within the room. it was actually stuffy. Had an OK burger on the restaurant, some good fries, sat subsequent to a surprisingly vulgar Canadian fella who appeared to take offense to the truth that I scooted down the bar to present him and his buddy a bit of extra elbow room. No matter.
Returned to the customer’s heart on foot to sit down within the automotive for an additional hour whereas it chugged as much as 100% ever so slowly. By the point I obtained again to the cabin it was cooling off a bit however nonetheless fairly toasty in there. Took a chilly bathe to chill down and handed out surprisingly simply.
Day 7 – Beaver Creek to Anchorage
Awoke early, obtained espresso at a spot throughout the road, it was nice, hit the highway. Roads nonetheless fairly unhealthy and lumpy on this space. No actual cell service as soon as you permit city for fairly a methods. Border crossing was very fast and straightforward, and I laughed at how significantly better the highway immediately obtained. Some development within the space (therefore the great roads I suppose) and needed to await pilot automobiles a few instances, however general fairly fast by way of right here. Fairly stunning once more, this complete day was.
Bought to Tok midmorning, stopped for espresso and a snack. I had been maintaining my eye on an enormous hearth within the space that seemed prefer it was threatening the city and presumably to shut the lower right down to Glennallen, which might have detoured me up round by way of Delta Junction after which down the Richardson. Not a ton longer however not time I needed to spend. 7 days on the highway is a very long time. Thankfully, there had been an enormous downpour within the space the day earlier than and the hearth was completely out.
Continued on to Glennallen, pulling in round 11:30. No state or federal funding on this nice nation of ours for charging infrastructure – this one was hilariously tucked within the again car parking zone of a log cabin Subway, proper subsequent to a dumpster. Positive says one thing about one thing. Temporary second of panic when the CCS charger wouldn’t begin charging, however downloaded one more f’ing charging community app and finally obtained it to begin charging. 50kw once more. Not likely “Quick” however at this level I solely had 180 miles to go to Anchorage. Fairly than eat at Subway I hiked up the highway a bit to the Caribou motel the place there was a restaurant. Had a fairly nice grilled cheese sandwich and a fairly first rate bowl of tomato soup and a fairly bizarre salad. Hit the highway with about 85%.
No extra charging stops til Anchorage. The part of freeway between Glennallen and Palmer is once more a number of the most stunning on the entire journey, regardless of the wet climate.
Arrived in Anchorage on about 17%. Ok!
That is it! Hope this helps somebody sooner or later. It feels like Canada is absolutely rolling out some extra EV capabilities as we communicate, so the part of the drive within the Yukon must be getting much less demanding on daily basis.”
Please Drop Your Ideas within the Feedback Under
Have you ever taken your EV on a highway journey? In that case, please inform us about it.
You probably have taken your EV on a highway journey, what have been the most important challenges and do you suggest something for different EV house owners to arrange?
Chris Johnston is the creator of SAE’s complete guide on electrical automobiles, “The Arrival of The Electrical Automotive.” His protection on Torque Information focuses on electrical automobiles. Chris has many years of product administration expertise in telematics, cellular computing, and wi-fi communications. Chris has a B.S. in electrical engineering from Purdue College and an MBA. He lives in Seattle. When not working, Chris enjoys restoring traditional wood boats, open water swimming, biking and flying (as a personal pilot). You may join with Chris on LinkedIn and comply with his work on X at ChrisJohnstonEV.
Comply with us at the moment…
